Dazaifu Tenman-gū

Dazaifu Tenman-gū 太宰府天満宮
The honden, or main shrine
Information
Type	Tenman-gū
Dedicated to	Tenjin
Founded	905
Address	4-7-1, Saifu, Dazaifu Fukuoka 818-0195
Phone	[phone]
Website	Homepage
Glossary of Shinto

Dazaifu Tenman-gū (太宰府天満宮^?) is a Shinto shrine in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is built over the grave of Sugawara no Michizane and is one of the main shrines dedicated to Tenjin, the deified form of Michizane.

Tobiume, an ume tree

Kanen, ethnography dating to the Heian period and a National Treasure

The shrine's precinct spans over 3,000 acres (12 km²) and includes several structures. Its honden, or main shrine, was first built by Yasuyuki Umasake in 905, two years after the death of Michizane. A larger structure was constructed by the Fujiwara clan in 919 but was destroyed in a fire during a civil war. The Momoyama-style shrine visitors see today dates from 1591 and is an Important Cultural Property.^[1] The grounds also contain two ponds, a bridge and a treasure house.^[2]

As well as the main shrine dedicated to Tenjin there are auxiliary and branch shrines of many other kami.^[3] The auxiliary shrine honden is an Important Cultural Property.^[4]

The shrine is also known for its 6,000 ume (Asian plum) trees belonging to 167 varieties. One tree, known as Tobiume, stands directly to the right of the honden. Legend has it that after Michizane left Kyoto in exile, he yearned so much for this tree that it was uprooted and brought to Dazaifu Tenman-gū.^[5]

Treasures

The Hōmotsuden houses items including:^[6]

• Kanen, a tenth-century history and ethnography (National Treasure)^[7][8]
• a Heian period tachi (Important Cultural Property)^[9]
• a Kamakura period tachi (Important Cultural Property)^[10]
• a Muromachi period painted stand (Important Cultural Property)^[11]
• documents dating from the Heian period to the Edo period important to the history of Dazaifu and Kyushu (Important Cultural Property)^[12]

See also

• Modern system of ranked Shinto Shrines
• List of National Treasures of Japan (writings)
• Kitano Tenman-gū
• Kōmyōzen-ji
• Kanzeon-ji
• List of National Treasures of Japan (writings: Japanese books)
• List of National Treasures of Japan (writings: Chinese books)

Notes

1. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails.asp?register_id=102&item_id=3483. Retrieved 31 March 2011. 
2. ^ "Precinct". Dazaifu Tenmangu. http://www.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp/other/pre_e.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-30. 
3. ^ "Other shrines". Dazaifu Tenman-gū. http://www.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp/miya/setsu_matsu.htm. Retrieved 31 March 2011. 
4. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Assets". Agency for Cultural Affairs. http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails.asp?register_id=102&item_id=3484. Retrieved 31 March 2011. 
5. ^ "Plum". Dazaifu Tenmangu. http://www.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp/other/plum_e.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-30. 
6. ^ "宝物殿". 太宰府天満宮. http://www.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp/miru/houmotsu.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-30. 
7. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails.asp?register_id=201&item_id=717. Retrieved 31 March 2011. 
8. ^ "National Treasures - Tenjin". Kyushu National Museum. http://www.kyuhaku.jp/exhibition/exhibition_s13.html. Retrieved 31 March 2011. 
9. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails.asp?register_id=201&item_id=6392. Retrieved 31 March 2011. 
10. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails.asp?register_id=201&item_id=6391. Retrieved 31 March 2011. 
11. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails.asp?register_id=201&item_id=7216. Retrieved 31 March 2011. 
12. ^ "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails.asp?register_id=201&item_id=9069. Retrieved 31 March 2011. 

External links

• Dazaifu Tenmangu (Official site)

Coordinates: 33°31′17″N 130°32′06″E / 33.52139°N 130.535°E / 33.52139; 130.535